Jimmy Carter invited to Canal Ceremony
Work on enlargement of the Panama Canal will begin on September 3, president Martin Torrijos announced. He exhorted all Panamanians to participate in this ceremony, to which former US president, James "Jimmy" Carter, who signed the Torrijos-Carter treaties, has been invited.

Up to June 30, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) had awarded several companies some 35 labor contracts related to the enlargement of the waterway, that total US$14.4 million. There are US$4.4 million for financial advice, US$2.1 million for the physical model of the hydraulic system and US$650,000 for legal advice, among other items.

On August 15 the Canal celebrated 93 years of operation.

Gas explosion verdict
The Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court condemned Carlos Ivan Guerra and Carlos Augusto Del Valle, to four years in jail for the dealth of the Asian, Put Mei Ken, in January 1997, when a tank of gas of 25 pounds exploded in the grocery store Yatsuri in the suburb of Torrijos Carter. Guerra was the head chemist at the Panama Refinery, and Del Valle, the manager of Panagas.

Energy saving
Seeking to promote the efficient and rational use of energy, before the end of the year the government will make available throughout the country 1.6 million foci fluorecent lamps to some 730,000 residential clients. Aderito Pastor Cabrera, executive director of the Commission of Energy Policies of the Ministry of Economy and Finances says the plan will cost US$4 million.

The demand for electric power is growing at the same rhythm as the Panamanian economy, about 8%. In the past only 45 megawatts were needed and now 80 megawatts a year are required.

Drug Guerrillas on the border
The guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have not been located in Panama but they are near the border, specifically in the areas of the Darien Gap and the Gulf of Urabá, that are border regions with Panama, said Colombian Police Major, Carlos Eduardo Duarte Ortiz, participating in the International Congress on Prevention of Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering and Terrorism.

He emphasised that communications between the Panamanian authorities and Colombians on security, drug trafficking and other crimes in which the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are involved on the border are "not the most efficient".

Deaths follow Union Clashes
Clashes between unions, induding the Sole Union of Construction Workers and Similar (Suntracs) and the Construction and Drilling Union (SITICOPP) led to the death of two construction workers shot in the clashes. One of the deaths occurred near the work on the Colon expressway being carried out by the Brazilian company Norberto Odebrecht in Chilibre which Suntracs has targeted because of what they claim are unwarrented dismissals. Another worker was killed when a group at a bus stop opened fire with an UZI sub macline gun and 9 MM pistols.

Bridge dialogue
The collapse of the bridge in Minneapolis caused a dialogue about Panama’s bridges. Maintenance of the Centennial bridge and The Bridge of the Americas should be the responsibility of the Panama Canal Authority and not the Ministry of Public Works, said the former Minister of Housing and executive of the Canal, Guillermo Quijano. In his opinion, any failure in those bridges will affect the operation of the Canal and the economy of the country.

The Bridge of the Americas, built by the US in 1962 is five year older than the Minneapolis bridge.

Panama’s tsunamis
Nearly 15 tsunamis have been registered in Panama according to the head of the Institute of Geosciences (IGC) of the University of Panama, Eric Chichaco said the strongest tsunami took place on September 7, 1882 in the region of Kuna Yala, on the Carribbean coast causing some small islands to disappear.

"Bridge Days"
The Panamanian Association of Hotels (Apatel) and the private sector are pressing to the government to re-establish the "bridge days" or long weekends, created by moving national holidays to Fridays or Mondays.

Trade accord with Costa Rica
The presidents of Panama, Martin Torrijos, and Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, yesterday signed a free trade agreement. The Minister of Commerce and Industries, Alejandro Ferrer, said "this treaty is important because it represents the strengthening of the commercial exchange with one of our main associates on a worldwide basis, and the first one of Central America".

Panama’s pilots
The professionalism and training of Panamanian aircraft pilots are well recognized worldwide, and countries such as China, Korea and India, hire their services, indicated the director of air safety of the Civil Aeronautics Authority (AAC), Captain Mario Motta.

Bananas
The aid of the government to banana producers affected by hurricane force winds last year, exceeds US$1,500,000. During an intense work tour of the district of Barú in Chiriquí province, the Minister of Agricultural Development, Guillermo Salazar, delivered 54 checks as contribution to the conversion of the traditional banana plants to a new variety that is more resistant.

Internet business success
The government goal of using the Internet as a way for new businesses to open had set 1,500 new businesses in one year as its target, but this figure has been surpassed in one month. On July 11, when the law took effect, until August 11, 2,132 new businesses completed this procedure through panamaemprende.gob.pa

Energy parks go ahead
The company, Centro Energético de las Américas declared that it will build an energy park in the community of María Chiquita, Colon province, and on the island of Taboguilla, in spite of the complaints of the residents of the neighboring island of Taboga. They have decided to change the location of the petroleum tanks that they were going to build on the island of Taboga, for a floating platform on Taboguilla, out of the marine currents and the winds that can affect the area.

"Injustice", says Balladares
The former president Ernesto Perez Balladares alleged yesterday that the United States committed a "serious injustice" by withdrawing his visa to enter that country for supposedly trafficking Chinese immigrants. Perez Balladares said on the radio station KW Continente that his innocence was proven at all levels of American justice, but no steps have been taken to return his visa.

Price index up
The montly variation of the National Urban Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July 2007 registered an increase of 0.5 percent at national level; 0.4 percent in the districts of Panama and San Miguelito, and 0.6 for the remaining urban areas, reported the Comptroller’s Office through its Department of Census and Statistics.

Customs revenue up
A Customs Management report indicates that in the seven first months of this year it has collected US$295.8 million, which represents an increase of US$70.5 million, that is to say 31.3% more than in the same period of 2006 when the collection was US$225.2 million.

$304 million against child labor
The International Labor Organization is optimistic about the eradication of child labor in Panama. It considers that an investment of US$304 million over 20 years would be sufficient.

Central American calm
In spite of the historical scars, Central America is no longer the land so painfully injured by exclusions, arbitrariness and violence, but an isthmus of tolerance, cooperation and hope, affirmed president Martin Torrijos in Costa Rica. The statements of Torrijos were made during the act celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Agreements of Esquipulas II, that marked the end of the armed conflicts in the region over several decades.

US Congress visits for-free trade ratification
As part of the strategy of the government and the Panamanian private sector to achieve the ratification of the Comercial Protection Treaty (free trade agreement) between the United States and Panama, US Congressmen have been visiting Panama. The foreign Minister, Samuel Lewis Navarro told the Congressional representative that the ratification of the agreement would put into effect a new tool of social and economic development, as well as facilitating the commercial exchange and investments between both nations.

US Congress delegates included Jim Matheson, Jim McDermont, Kendrich Meek, Joe Crowley, Ivette Clarke and Jerry Weller.

The Panamanian farm sector is vehemently opposed to the treaty. "We will do everything possible so that the free trade agreement between Panama and the United States will be not ratified, since we consider that it goes against the interests of the farming sector, which, we are sure, would disappear in 10 years if the agreement is put into effect", said Enrique Athanasiadis, president of ONAGRO, at a press conference.

Credit card crime
Take care when using a credit card, particularly when handing it over to make a payment. The Technical Judicial Police (PTJ) discovered criminal organizations that are using portable readers of magnetic strips, replacing identities and placing dome type cameras in ATM, to clone credit cards.

Coastal highway
Any minute the administrative order could be given to proceed with the construction of the Coastal Strip highway which will flank Ave. Balboa. The companies, involved will be Norberto Odebrecht and its associate, Constructora Urbana (CUSA). This was brought to light by Carlos Ho, engineer of Special Projects of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) on RPC radio network.

Biodiesel
With the exception of Panama, Central American countries have taken the initial steps to use biodiesel. Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador have evaluated the quality and quantity of lands necessary for its production, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America (CEPAL).

But the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) is eying the possibility of palm oil production in the province of Chiriqui, specifically in the district of Barú.

Pipeline Doubts
The president of the Panama Canal Affairs Commission of the National Assembly, Tomas Altamirano Mantovani, and the deputy, Leopoldo Benedetti, showed reservations about the construction of a pipeline that would link the Caribbean with the Pacific, passing under the Gatun Lake. The backers of the project were cited to the Assembly to explain the plan.

The main obstacle to the mega project, however is that the developer Centro Energético de las Américas does not yet have approval of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), or the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) to pass the pipeline under Gatun Lake. The residents of the islands of Taboga are opposed to the project.

Beware South Corridor
Kilometer 17 of the South Corridor can be one of the places of most risk for a driver with a flat tyre. For a month there have been no shoulders to pull off to in case of a mishap on the stretch at the beginning of the marine section, heading towards the city. The expressway had two lanes each 3.60 meters wide, which permitted a shoulder. Now there are three lanes of 3.20 meters and the shoulders have disappeared.

Avancular scandal
The Playa Blanca Corporation whose legal representative is Rodolfo "Charro" Espino, an uncle of president Martin Torrijos, caused a scandal when it was revealed that the company had destroyed an area of mangroves at Punta Chame without even submitting an environmental impact study.

The National Environmental Authority (Anam) fined the company US$60,735 for development of an activity in an "environmentally fragile area" without submitting an environmental impact study (EIA) and US$24,635 in concept of ecological compensation for the area affected by the "elimination of wetlands and vegetation".

The daily newspaper El Panama America reported that a civil suit demanding payment of US$500,000 against Espino was presented by Berguis Moscoso, brother of the former president Mireya Moscoso. The accusation alleged breach of a management contract signed in 2002, in which Berguis Moscoso and Berta Alicia Moscoso were hired to carry out a series of transactions in the offices of the Agrarian Reform that was considered a request to acquire a globe of land in the area of Punta Chame, that adjoined with the lands of Fernando Fontane.

High land prices
La Prensa reported that because of the real estate "boom", the Administrative Properties Unit - replacing the old Interoceanic Region Authority -- is selling reverted properties (those in the old Canal Area which were returned to Panama after the US exodus) at 112% over the apprecisal prices.

Banks prosper
The liquid assets of the Panamanian banking center increased by 44%, while the credit accounts receivable improved by 17.3%, between January and June 2007, in comparison to the same period of the previous year, according to a study by the Comptroller’s Office, through its Department of Census and Statistics. The deposits in the banking system rose by 22.9%

New cell phone companies
Two new businesses will offer cellular telephone services in Panama, bringing more competition and variety for the consumer. A tender will be carried out at the end of October, reported the administrator of the National Authority of Public Utilitites (ASEP), Victor Urrutia.

Panama promoted in U.S. cities

Advance Publications, owner of Conde Nast Magazines, The New Yorker and Vogue will launch a promotion about Panama in one of the most important business magazines: American City Business Journals, which is published weekly in 41 U.S. cities.

The promotion will run from October 2007, every month, for a year, with simultaneous editorials in ten cities, which have been carefully selected by the marketing agency International Global Branding Group.

Royal Caribbean selects Latin American cities as home ports

Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line has selected Latin American cities as home ports, to offer fresh new itineraries in the Caribbean and South America. The ports are Colon, in Panama; Santo Domingo, in Dominican Republic and Sao Paolo, in Brazil.

Their ship "Enchantment of the Seas" will offer 17 week-long sailings from Colon between December 2008 and April 2009 calling at Cartagena, and Santa Marta in Colombia; Oranjestad in Aruba, Willemstad, in Curacao and Kralendijk in Bonaire.

Beginning in December of this year, the "Legend of the Seas" will depart from Santo Domingo, in Dominican Republic, a country largely ignored by cruise lines despite its proximity to Puerto Rico.

Also in December, this year "Splendor of the Seas" will start operating from San Paolo, mainly to Brazilian ports.

Maria Sastre, vice-president international sales and marketing for Latin America, the Caribbean and Mexico for Royal Caribbean said that the continued focus of the company is to develop their business in Latin America.

$3 million for Gatun lake logging

Wells Fargo Bank says it is financing an Alaska company that will recover underwater hardwood in Gatun Lake.The $3 million line of credit goes to Gunderboom Inc., an Anchorage marine construction firm. Gunderboom obtained a Panamanian contract in 2006 to provide expertise, technology and equipment for underwater logging.The project aims to recover stumps and logs submerged since the Panama Canal was built in the early 1900s.

The company says the recovery project will produce approximately 400 million board feet of lumber while protecting the aquatic ecosystem. The financing is the bank´s first for an Alaska company through the federal Export-Import Bank of the United States.